Driving licences and medical examinations for health reasons
Verified 06 May 2022 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)
Additional cases ?
You have health problem and you wonder if one medical visit is required for pass permit or maintain permit ? You get a layout, e.g. an adapted gearbox or an automatic clutch? We will tell you in which cases the medical examination is mandatory and the steps to follow to do the procedure.
You pass the permit
Step-by-step approach
You must pass a medical examination in the following cases:
- You have illness not compatible with the issuance of the licence
- You pass permit A or B and you have physical incapacity not compatible with licence
- You pass permit A or B to drive disabled vehicle
- You pass permit A, A1, A2, B or B1 and you have disability pensioncivil or military
- Examiner you request for medical examination after the permit review
Please note
if you do not have a medical check-up and you are responsible for an accident related to a condition incompatible with driving, you are not not covered by your insurance.
You must contact a registered town physician by the prefect of your department.
This doctor should not be your attending physician.
You can view list of registered physicians on prefectural websites.
The list of accredited doctors is also available in prefectures, sub-prefectures and in the town halls of certain communes.
FYI
you can take the medical check with a licenced physician in a department other than your home. In this case, it is prudent to include in your file an explanation of the use of a doctor other than that of your department of residence.
In Paris
You must download and pre-fill the cerfa form no. 14880.
The form is also available in prefecture.
You must also complete a questionnaire about your health.
You can download the order of 28 March 2022 which contains this questionnaire in Annexe III (page 44) )
Also prepare a identification (original) and documents you find useful on health.
The doctor should check your fitness, cognitive and sensory driving.
If you have not already completed the questionnaire regarding your health, the doctor will have you fill it out.
He reviews your file and conducts the medical examination.
The doctor may:
- Prescribe additional reviews
- Prescribe a psychotechnical examination with a psychologist who has been registered with the prefect
- Ask advice from specialised health professionals
- Request a driving test
- Request your review by a medical board
If necessary, contact your prefecture to make these enquiries.
General case
In Paris
For the LES in Paris, please consult the police prefecture website , taking into account the specificities of the Parisian organisation.
The medical examination, also called medical checkcosts €36.
The average price of a psychotechnical examination is €100 about.
Health Insurance (Social Security) does not cover the costs of medical check-ups or any additional tests.
The doctor gives you the original medical opinion.
The doctor gives the "fit" opinion.
This means that your health is compatible with driving.
Keep medical advice which will be necessary to make your application to drive online on theCHILDREN: titleContent.
You enrol in the exam driver's licence.
The medical opinion has a validity of 2 years.
Please note
the prefect is not obliged to follow the medical advice and may object to your registration for the driving licence examination.
The doctor gives you the original medical opinion.
There are 3 possible reviews:
- Unfit
This means that your health condition is incompatible with driving. - Temporary
The doctor specifies the duration, between 6 months and 5 years. - Restricted fit
The doctor shall specify the necessary arrangements or equipment.
You receive a mail to inform yourself that submit comments.
At the end of the deadline to collect your comments, the prefect notifyby mail its decision : incapacityability temporary or aptitude restricted.
The letter shall specify remedies and time limits.
You can appeal to the Medical Appeals Board.
However, you must respect the decision of the prefect even if you appeal.
The Board shall examine you, consult the accredited medical practitioner if necessary and transmit its opinion the prefect.
If the Prefect makes a negative decision again, you can request a new medical check in 6 months following this decision.
You can also do a appeal to administrative judge.
You already have a permit
Step-by-step approach
You must pass a medical examination in the following cases:
- You have illness not compatible with continuation of licence
- Your health implies limitation of validity permit
- You have limited validity permit with forensic EAD restriction
- You want to exempted from mandatory seat belt use
- You want to prove that your health condition warrants an exception to the rules of transparency of vehicle windows
Please note
if you do not have a medical check-up and are responsible for an accident related to a condition incompatible with driving, you are not covered by your insurance.
You must contact a registered town physician by the prefect of your department.
This doctor should not be your attending physician.
You can view list of registered physicians on prefectural websites.
The list of accredited doctors is also available in prefectures, sub-prefectures and in the town halls of certain communes.
FYI
you can take the medical check with a licenced physician in a department other than your home. In this case, it is prudent to include in your file an explanation of the use of a doctor other than that of your department of residence.
You must download and pre-fill the cerfa form no. 14880.
The form is also available in prefecture.
You must also complete a questionnaire about your health.
You can download the order of 28 March 2022 which contains this questionnaire in Annexe III (page 44) )
Also prepare a identification (original) and documents you find useful on health.
The doctor should check your fitness, cognitive and sensory driving.
If you have not already completed the questionnaire regarding your health, the doctor will have you fill it out.
He reviews your file and conducts the medical examination.
The doctor may:
- Prescribe additional reviews
- Prescribe a psychotechnical examination with a psychologist who has been registered with the prefect
- Ask advice from specialised health professionals
- Request a driving test
- Request your review by a medical board
If necessary, contact your prefecture to make these enquiries.
General case
In Paris
For the LES in Paris, please consult the police prefecture website , taking into account the specificities of the Parisian organisation.
The medical examination, also called medical checkcosts €36.
Health insurance does not cover the cost of a medical examination or any additional examinations.
The average price of a psychotechnical examination is €100 about.
However, the medical check is free for a disabled person whose recognised disability rate is equal to or greater than 50%.
The doctor gives you the original medical opinion.
The doctor gives the opinion"Fit".
This means that your health is compatible with driving.
Warning
the medical advice "Apte" does not allow you to drive until the prefect has made a decision unless your permit is still valid at the time of medical examination.
In case of control by law enforcement, present your driving licence and medical opinion.
The medical opinion has a validity of 2 years.
The application for renewal can be found online on theCHILDREN: titleContent.
You must attach scanned version of medical opinion other documents requested.
Online application for a driving licence upon expiry
Please note
the prefect is not obliged to follow the medical advice. He can make an unfavourable decision.
The doctor gives you the original medical opinion.
There are 3 possible reviews:
- Unfit
This means that your health condition is incompatible with driving. - Temporary
The doctor specifies the duration, between 6 months and 5 years. - Restricted fit
The doctor shall specify the necessary arrangements or equipment.
You receive a mail to inform yourself that make your comments.
At the end of the deadline to collect your comments, the prefect notifyby mail its decision : incapacityability temporary or aptitude restricted.
The letter shall specify remedies and time limits.
You can appeal to the medical board of appeal.
However, you must respect the decision of the prefect even if you appeal.
The Board shall examine you, consult the accredited medical practitioner if necessary and transmit its opinion the prefect.
If the Prefect makes a negative decision again, you can request a new medical check in 6 months following this decision.
You can also do aappeal to administrative judge.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
- 34 00 - Information on carte grise or driving licence
A national interactive voice server providing automated responses regarding carte grise, driver's licence, national identity card and passport.
If the user does not get the answer to his question about the carte grise or driving licence, he will be contacted by an adviser of the National Secured Securities Agency (ANTS).
Phone
From the city:
34 00 (cost of a local call)
From overseas:
09 70 83 07 07
From the foreigner:
+33 9 70 83 07 07
- Route Code: Articles L224-1 to L224-18Prohibition of issuance, retention, suspension and cancellation.
- Route Code: items R221-4 to R221-8Issuance of driving licence
- Route Code: items R221-9 to R221-13Proficiency Check
- Route Code: items R226-1 to R226-4Organisation of the medical check of driving ability
- Route Code: items R412-6 to R412-16General rules of circulation
- Code of Social Action and Families: Articles L243-4 to L243-7Free for disabled people
- Order of 28 March 2022 listing medical conditions incompatible with or compatible with the obtaining or maintaining of a driving licence or which may result in limited validity
- Order of 18 October 2016 concerning the approval of glazing and its installation in vehicles
- Order of 26 August 2016 concerning the psychotechnical examination provided for in the context of the medical examination of fitness for driving
- Order of 1 February 2016 fixing the amount of the fees of doctors accredited for the medical check on driving ability
- Order of 31 July 2012 concerning the organisation of the medical check on fitness for driving
- Order of 20 April 2012 fixing the conditions of establishment, issue and validity of the driving licence
- Circular of 25 July 2013 on the organisation of the medical check on the driving ability of drivers and applicants for a driving licence
- Circular of 3 August 2012 on the organisation of the medical check on drivers' driving ability
- Ministerial Response of 16 February 2021 on persons with disabilities who encounter difficulties in the procedures for renewing driving licences
- Ministerial Response of 1 September 2020 on the issue of elderly drivers
- Ministerial Response of 7 July 2020 on the mandatory medical check-up prior to the resumption of driving following certain health problems
FAQ
- After eye surgery, do you need to apply for a new driver's licence?
- Can seat belts be dispensed with?
- Who should drive with an EAD?
- How do I get a driver's licence when I have a disability?
- What do the codes added to Licence B mean?
- Which vehicles can be driven without a driver's licence?
- Point driving licence: how do i make a claim?
- Traffic offencesService-Public.fr
- Motor insurance (vehicle)Service-Public.fr
- Driver’s licenceService-Public.fr
- Right to drive: incompatible or restrictive medical conditionsLegifrance
